PRACTICAL GUIDE. Working safely with hazardous substances

Transcription

1 PRACTICAL GUIDE Working safely with hazardous substances November 2017

2 CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction About this guide Hazardous substances How hazardous substances are classified Controls for managing hazardous substances Managing risk So far as is reasonably practicable Health and safety duties in the workplace More about the PCBU Approvals, hazard classifications and controls Approvals Hazard classifications Controls for managing hazardous substances Manage hazardous substances risks Hazardous substances can damage your health Applying substance controls Prepare an inventory of your hazardous substances Find and implement the key controls with the Calculator Manage remaining hazardous substances risks Review control measures Health and exposure monitoring Information, instruction and training Young people 21

3 4.0 Hazardous substance information Label all hazardous substances Symbols on labels and signs Safety data sheets Signage Store hazardous substances safely Decanting or transferring hazardous substances Incompatibles Store only what you need, store it safely Gas cylinders Oxy-acetylene welding Flammable substances Other substances Emergency preparation Prepare for an emergency Spill kits Control measures in the Hazardous Substances Calculator Compliance certificates What are compliance certificates? Certified handler compliance certificates Approved filler certificate Location compliance certificates Stationary container system compliance certificates 49

4 8.0 Tracking very hazardous substances Where does tracking start? The competent person s responsibilities Keeping tracking records Information needed in tracking records 52 appendices Appendix 1: Resources 54 Appendix 2: Glossary 55 tables 1 Physical hazards 24 2 Health hazards 26 3 Environmental hazards 26 4 SDS headings 28 5 Incompatible substances general guidance 34 6 Ignition sources 36 figures 1 HSNO Classification System 9 3 Substituting hazardous substances for less hazardous ones 17 4 Local exhaust ventilation 17 5 Examples of PPE 18 6 Sample label 27 7 What to put on the sign 29 8 Example signs for diesel 30 9 Where signs should be placed at a site Storage reminders Hazardous area Fire extinguisher Secondary containment Emergency Response Flipchart 43

5 1.0 Introduction IN THIS SECTION: 1.1 About this guide 1.2 Hazardous substances 1.3 How hazardous substances are classified 1.4 Controls for managing hazardous substances 1.5 Managing risk 1.6 So far as is reasonably practicable 1.7 Health and safety duties in the workplace 1.8 More about the PCBU 3

6 1.0 Introduction Around 150,000 workplaces throughout New Zealand use hazardous substances. The risks they cause are often taken for granted. For example, common hazardous substances like commercial cleaning products, paints, adhesives, acids, bases and solvents can cause serious harm if not used safely. Not understanding the harm that can occur when working with hazardous substances is a serious problem with serious consequences. Between 600 and 900 New Zealanders are estimated to die from work-related illness every year, many from exposure to hazardous substances. 1.1 About this guide This guide helps you manage the hazardous substances you use, handle, manufacture and store at work more safely. It also helps you to meet your obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) and the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations (the Regulations). It is a reference document about what you need to do and how to do it. Use this guide alongside WorkSafe s other guidance and the Hazardous Substances Calculator available at: When you enter the details of your inventory into the Calculator, it works out the key controls you need to safely manage your hazardous substances. When you see this calculator icon in this guide, it means that the control is included in the Calculator. See page 15 of this guide for more information about using the Calculator. While this guide gives you information about the key controls for hazardous substances, the only way to know which controls you have to follow is to know what hazardous substances you have and and in what quantities by creating an inventory. You can use the Calculator to create an inventory, or WorkSafe has also published a quick guide on how to prepare an inventory of your hazardous substances, which includes a template of a hazardous substance inventory. Another tool, the Workbook, takes you through the process of creating an inventory, and is available at: Once you have created an inventory, the Calculator will tell you the key controls that apply, or you can use the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) database, Approved Hazardous Substances with Controls, to see a full list of the controls for your substances. This guide is for PCBUs (persons conducting a business or undertaking), especially small business PCBUs. When you read you or business, it generally means the PCBU. See Section 1.8 of this guide for more information on the PCBU and their duties. This guide focuses on the health and safety principles and key controls that increase workplace health and safety. It helps you improve your compliance with these controls but does not contain information about every control, or detailed information about transporting or disposing of substances, or about explosives. This section describes some of the key concepts you will see in the guide. There is a glossary at the back explaining some of the terms that are used. 1.2 Hazardous substances Hazardous substances are substances that are explosive, flammable, oxidising, toxic, corrosive or toxic to the environment (ecotoxic). A hazardous substance may be a single chemical or a mixture of both hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals. Most products used in the workplace are a mixture of chemicals. In this guide the words product and substance may be used interchangeably. 4

7 1.0 Introduction 1.3 How hazardous substances are classified Hazardous substances are classified based on the hazards they pose to people and the environment due to their hazardous properties. This helps determine how to manage the risks they cause. Each new hazardous substance imported into New Zealand or manufactured in New Zealand must be approved by the EPA and classified. Most hazardous substances have more than one hazardous property and as a result, more than one classification. Based on this classification, controls are placed on a substance to manage the risks it can cause. For more information on classifications, see pages 8-9 of this guide. 1.4 Controls for managing hazardous substances You need to follow the rules that apply for a substance s classification or classifications to manage the risks it poses. These rules are known as controls. The controls vary depending on the risk of the hazardous substance, its hazardous properties, how much of it there is and how it is used. Some controls, such as preparing an inventory or labelling always apply no matter what hazardous substances you use and store. Other controls, such as signage or certified handlers, apply only if you have specific hazardous substances over certain limits (thresholds). In other words, the controls you need to follow depend on the type and amount of hazardous substances you have. For more information on controls, see pages of this guide. 1.5 Managing risk Consider whether you need hazardous substances in your workplace. If you can, eliminate hazardous substances from your workplace. Then, consider whether you can substitute any that remain for less hazardous ones. But sometimes a hazardous substance is necessary for your work and cannot be eliminated or substituted. If a hazardous substance has to be in a workplace, the Regulations set specific controls to reduce the risk of working with it. After you put in place these specific controls, you then need to identify any remaining hazards that could create reasonably foreseeable risks, and so far as is reasonably practicable eliminate them to protect workers and other people in the workplace. See below for more about what so far as is reasonably practicable means. If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the remaining risks or substitute the hazards that causes them, the PCBU must minimise them, so far as is reasonably practicable, by putting in place the most effective control measures for them. These are listed below, from most to least effective: Isolating the hazards to prevent people from being exposed to the risks or applying engineering control measures physical control measures that might include mechanical devices or processes. Applying administrative controls, if any risk remains after isolating the hazard or applying engineering control measures. These are safe methods of work, processes or procedures designed to minimise risk. They do not include engineering controls, or wearing or using personal protective equipment (PPE). If a risk still remains after all of the above, you must minimise it by ensuring the provision and use of suitable PPE when other control measures alone can t adequately manage the risk. The risk management process is explained in more detail between pages 16 and 19 of this guide. 5

8 1.0 Introduction 1.6 So far as is reasonably practicable When managing risk, you need to eliminate or minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable. This means something can reasonably be done after weighing up and considering: how likely it is that a hazard or risk will cause harm how severe that harm could be what a person knows, or reasonably should know, about the risk and how to eliminate or minimise it the measures in place to eliminate or minimise the risk (control measures) how available and suitable the control measures are. 1.7 Health and safety duties in the workplace Everyone at a workplace has a role to play in workplace health and safety. The duty holders under HSWA are: The PCBU see below for more about the PCBU. The officers of the PCBU, who must ensure that the PCBU meets its health and safety duties. An officer could be a company director or anyone whose position allows them to exercise significant influence over the management of the business or undertaking. Workers have a duty to take reasonable care to keep themselves and others healthy and safe when doing their work. Workers include employees, contractors, subcontractors, apprentices and volunteer workers. Other people in the workplace, such as visitors or customers, have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety, and not to harm others. For more information on each duty holder and their duties, visit WorkSafe s website. 1.8 More about the PCBU HSWA gives duties to the person conducting a business or undertaking. A PCBU may be an individual person or an organisation, but is usually an organisation. A PCBU could be a business that is a limited liability company, a sole trader, self-employed person or a limited partnership, among others. A PCBU isn t a volunteer association or a home occupier who employs someone to do work around the home, or an officer in a business or undertaking. A PCBU has a primary duty of care to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers, and that other persons, such as visitors or customers, are not put at risk by its work. PCBUs also have other duties including providing information, training, instruction or supervision and ensuring worker engagement and participation. For more information about the PCBU and its duties, see WorkSafe s website. 6

9 2.0 Approvals, hazard classifications and controls IN THIS SECTION: 2.1 Approvals 2.2 Hazard classifications 2.3 Controls for managing hazardous substances 7

10 2.0 Approvals, hazard classifications and controls 2.1 Approvals Every hazardous substance imported into New Zealand or manufactured in New Zealand must be approved under the HSNO Act and have an approval number. Most products that small businesses use are approved under group standards. These are approvals for similar substances or products with a similar use (eg HSR Cleaning Products). If a product's hazard classifications and uses are covered by a group standard, an importer or manufacturer can assign it to that group standard and use its approval number. You can usually find approval numbers on the safety data sheet (SDS) in Section 15: Regulatory Information. If you can t find the approval number on your SDS, contact your supplier. For more information about the SDS, see page 28 of this guide. You can also find the approval numbers on the EPA Approved Hazardous Substances with Controls database, available at their website: When you enter the name of most hazardous substances into the Hazardous Substances Calculator (the Calculator), it will also provide the approval number. The Calculator lists the key controls from the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 (the Regulations) and the HSNO Act that apply to substances. For more information about how to use this information in the Calculator see page 15 of this guide. 2.2 Hazard classifications Hazardous substances can be classified under several similar systems. New Zealand uses the HSNO system, based on the United Nations (UN) system for classifying dangerous goods for transport and the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Substances manufactured overseas may use another system. See page 9 of this guide for more information on HSNO hazard classifications. Your product s classification should be listed in the Hazards Identification section of the SDS, usually Section 2. See page 28 of this guide for more information on the SDS. Classification systems HSNO CLASSIFICATION HSNO classifications are currently used in New Zealand to classify hazardous substances. Hazardous substances are assigned a classification largely based on the UN dangerous goods classification system. However, for labelling, SDS and packaging, the GHS system may be used (see below). GLOBALLY HARMONIZED SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION AND LABELLING OF CHEMICALS (GHS) The GHS is an internationally agreed system that aims to replace the classification and labelling standards used in different countries with globally consistent criteria. Like the HSNO classification system, it assigns substances or articles to 9 physical hazard classes largely based on the United Nations Dangerous Goods system. It also classifies health and environmental hazards into type. Products brought into New Zealand from overseas may use the GHS system rather than HSNO on labels, the SDS or packaging. A conversion table for HSNO and GHS classifications is available at: publications/hsnogen-ghs-nz-hazard.pdf 8

11 2.0 Approvals, hazard classifications and controls UN NUMBER The UN number is a four digit number assigned to hazardous materials and articles for international transport. Numbers are assigned to individual hazardous substances or groups of chemicals or products with similar properties. UN CLASS UN classes classify dangerous goods into classes for transport according to their hazard. Some classes are subdivided into divisions. The class numbers are generally similar to those used in the HSNO classifications (see below), except for class 9, which is miscellaneous under the UN system and for substances toxic to the environment under HSNO. UN PACKING GROUP Packing groups determine what protective packaging is required for dangerous goods during transportation. There are three groups (I, II and III) representing high, medium or low danger. You can use the UN class and packing group in the calculator if the HSNO classification is unavailable. HSNO classification system The HSNO classes are: Class 1 explosives (note that this guide does not provide information about explosives) Class 2 flammable gases Class 3 flammable liquids Class 4 flammable solids Class 5 oxidising substances Class 6 substances toxic to people Class 8 corrosive substances Class 9 substances toxic to the environment A class subclass degree of hazard For example, for a substance classified as 6.3A: 6 is the class, which indicates the substance is toxic to people 3 is the subclass, which indicates the type of toxicity, for example, irritating to the skin, and the letter A indicates the degree of hazard, with A being the highest hazard. Therefore a hazardous substance classified as 6.3A is highly irritating to the skin. FIGURE 1: HSNO Classification System The HSNO system uses numbered classes and subclasses to indicate the hazardous properties of a substance MOST HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES HAVE MORE THAN ONE CLASSIFICATION Because most hazardous substances have more than one hazardous property, they also have more than one classification. For example, petrol is classified as 3.1A (highly flammable liquid), 6.1E (acutely toxic may be harmful, aspiration hazard), 6.3B (mildly irritating to the skin), 6.7B (suspected human carcinogen) and 9.1B (toxic to the aquatic environment). 9

12 2.0 Approvals, hazard classifications and controls 2.3 Controls for managing hazardous substances Whenever a hazardous substance is present in your workplace, you need to put in place the controls for that substance. Your substance s controls come from the Regulations and the HSNO Act. The simplest way to find out the key controls that apply to your substance is to enter its name or approval number into the Calculator. Some controls are required for every substance. In the Calculator, most of these controls are grouped together as Generic Controls. Other controls apply only if you have substances in your workplace over specified threshold quantities. Controls for hazardous substances in any quantity AN INVENTORY AND SAFETY DATA SHEETS FOR ALL HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES YOU USE, HANDLE, MANUFACTURE AND STORE You must prepare and maintain an inventory of all the hazardous substances used and stored at your workplace, including hazardous waste. See WorkSafe s inventory quick guide for information on how to prepare an inventory of your hazardous substances. See also page 15 of this guide for information about what to include in an inventory. You need an SDS for each substance in your workplace. See page 28 of this guide for a list of the sections of an SDS. RISK ASSESSMENT FOLLOWED BY ELIMINATION OR MINIMISATION If you cannot eliminate a hazardous substance from your workplace or substitute it with a safer one, and any risk remains after you have applied the controls for the substance from the regulations and the substance approval, minimise the risk using control measures described on page 5 of this guide in the introduction and in more detail between pages 16 and 19. INFORMATION, INSTRUCTION, TRAINING AND SUPERVISION Workers need training and instruction to make sure they have the knowledge and experience to use, handle, manufacture and store hazardous substances safely, or they need to be supervised by someone who has this knowledge. See page of this guide for more information. EMERGENCY PREPARATION Make sure your workers and workplace are prepared for an emergency and that you have an emergency response plan. See page 40 of this guide for more information. LABELLING CONTAINERS OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES (INCLUDING HAZARDOUS WASTE) You need to label all containers of hazardous substances at the workplace, including containers of hazardous waste. See pages of this guide for more information. PPE You have a duty to ensure the provision of any and all PPE the worker requires to carry out their work. See pages of this guide for more information. Substance specific controls If you use, handle, manufacture or store some hazardous substances over specific threshold quantities, you may need to put in place additional controls. The Calculator will help you work out what key controls apply. 10

13 2.0 Approvals, hazard classifications and controls FIRE EXTINGUISHERS If you have flammable or oxidising substances, you may need a specific type and number of fire extinguishers. However, even if it s not a requirement for your substances, you should always have fire extinguishers available. See page 41 of this guide for more information. SIGNS Depending on the types and amounts of hazardous substances you use or store, you may need signs to warn people that hazardous substances are present. However, it s always best practice to have signs in place. See pages of this guide for more information. CERTIFIED HANDLERS A certified handler is someone who has specific knowledge and experience about how to handle specified highly toxic, corrosive and explosive substances and who holds a compliance certificate from a compliance certifier. See pages of this guide for more information. A LOCATION COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE If you have flammable, oxidising, toxic or corrosive substances at your workplace, you may need a location compliance certificate to certify that you are managing the risks associated with those substances. See pages for more information. HAZARDOUS AREAS This is an area around flammable substances where sources of ignition are excluded to prevent ignition of a flammable vapour resulting in fire/explosion. See pages of this guide for more information. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN An emergency response plan is a written document that lists what will be done in an emergency involving your hazardous substances and who is responsible for each task. See page 42 of this guide for more information. SECONDARY CONTAINMENT (BUNDING) A secondary containment system contains liquid substances if they leak or spill from the container or vessel they are stored in and enables them to be recovered. See page 42 of this guide for more information. A STATIONARY CONTAINER SYSTEM COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE If you have a stationary tank containing a gas or liquid hazardous substance, you may need a stationary container system compliance certificate to certify that your tank is safe and complies with the rules. The Calculator will tell you whether a stationary container system compliance certificate is required. See page 49 of this guide for more information. TRACKING Tracking is a record of the lifecycle of a substance. The Calculator will tell you whether tracking is required for your substance. See pages of this guide for more information. AN APPROVED FILLER CERTIFICATE An approved filler certificate certifies that a person has the necessary training, knowledge and skills to fill compressed gas containers safely, and that this knowledge has been certified by a compliance certifier. See pages of this guide for more information. 11

14 2.0 Approvals, hazard classifications and controls CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE LICENCE You need a controlled substance licence (CSL) to possess certain class 1 (explosive) and class 6 (vertebrate toxic agents or fumigants) substances. See WorkSafe s website for more information on obtaining a controlled substance licence and what substances require a controlled substance licence (CSL). 12

15 3.0 Manage hazardous substances risks IN THIS SECTION: 3.1 Hazardous substances can damage your health 3.2 Applying substance controls 3.3 Prepare an inventory of your hazardous substances 3.4 Find and implement the key controls with the Calculator 3.5 Manage remaining hazardous substances risks 3.6 Review control measures 3.7 Health and exposure monitoring 3.8 Information, instruction and training 3.9 Young people 13

16 3.0 Manage hazardous substances risks 3.1 Hazardous substances can damage your health Some risks related with hazardous substances are obvious. For example, highly flammable substances like petrol, acetone or methylated spirits must be kept away from an open flame to prevent a fire or an explosion. Serious accidents like explosions do happen, but don t forget the less obvious harm hazardous substances can cause, especially due to the following types of exposure: Breathing in toxic vapours, dusts, mists, gases or fumes from hazardous substances. If you can smell it, you are breathing it in. But don t depend on smell alone, as your sense of smell can become overloaded and even though you may no longer be able to smell the substance, it might still be in the air. Some toxic hazardous substances don t have a smell, so you shouldn t use smell as the only indicator that hazardous substances are present. Hazardous substances being absorbed through your skin and entering your blood stream. If you touch something exposed to hazardous substances (eg tools, PPE, surfaces) without wearing proper protection, you could absorb the substances through your skin. Swallowing or ingesting hazardous substances. Hazardous substances can be accidentally swallowed, for example, if you eat or smoke without washing your hands after using hazardous substances. Inhalation Skin absorption Ingestion Solvent vapours are an example of how hazardous substances can harm you when you breathe them in, with immediate effects like headaches, forgetfulness, drowsiness, dizziness and/or nausea, irritability and mood changes, and irritation of the eyes, lungs and skin. Long-term effects may not be immediately obvious but can be more serious, such as personality changes, sleep disorders, memory loss, cancer, damage to the liver and kidneys, harm to unborn children, fertility problems, and even death. FIGURE 2: How hazardous substances enter the body To avoid these consequences, you must manage risk to keep yourself, your workers and your workplace safe. 3.2 Applying substance controls To protect you from risk, you must put in place specific technical controls whenever hazardous substances are present in your workplace above specified thresholds. The following steps show you how to use the Calculator to find the key controls for your substances. 1. Make a list of all of your substances First, make a list of all of the substances used, stored, handled or manufactured (ie mixed or blended) at your workplace including any waste created from manufacturing or industrial processes. Include all substances to begin with; even the ones you might not think are hazardous. 2. Obtain a safety data sheet for each substance A safety data sheet (SDS) provides information on the hazards posed by a hazardous substance and safe ways to use, store, transport and dispose of it. You need to obtain an SDS for each hazardous substance from its manufacturer, 14

17 3.0 Manage hazardous substances risks importer or supplier when it is first supplied to you, when it is supplied to you for the first time in five years, or when it is supplied for the first time after any changes are made to its SDS. See pages for more information, including when you don t need an SDS. 3. Determine whether your substances are hazardous Next, determine whether your substances are hazardous. Read the label for warnings (eg causes skin irritation) and the SDS, especially the Hazards Identification section, to find out whether the substance is hazardous. Only hazardous substances can be entered into the Calculator and only hazardous substances have a hazard classification. Some substances may be hazardous to health without being classified as hazardous substances (eg wood dust). Although you need to manage the risks associated with these substances, they do not need to be entered into your inventory. See the definition of hazardous substances in the Glossary. 3.3 Prepare an inventory of your hazardous substances You must prepare an inventory of the hazardous substances that you use, handle, manufacture or store in your workplace, and ensure that the information in it is up-to-date. The inventory must include: the product or chemical name and UN number of each hazardous substance the maximum amount of each hazardous substance likely to be at the workplace the location of the hazardous substances specific storage and segregation requirements and the current SDS for each hazardous substance or a condensed version of the key information from the SDS. The inventory also needs to include waste likely to meet the criteria to be classified as a hazardous substance. The inventory should also include other information useful for identifying the substance (eg classification, UN class and packing group, approval number) and about its storage (eg container size and type, whether the container is open or closed, or whether the substance is a solid, liquid or gas). 3.4 Find and implement the key controls with the Calculator Enter the hazardous substances in your inventory into the Calculator. Generally the name of the hazardous substance is enough, but you can also enter the HSNO approval number or CAS number. If you cannot find your substance in the Calculator with this information, you can search for it using the name or HSNO approval number of the group standard it is approved under, followed by its hazard classifications. If you do not have these, use the UN class and UN packing group found in Section 14 of the SDS. You may also need to enter information about the type of storage. Then, after you enter information about maximum quantities, the Calculator will then list the key controls that apply to your substances. Implement the controls for your substances provided by the Calculator and any additional controls from the HSNO approval. Check the SDS for any other controls that may apply to a specific substance. 15

18 3.0 Manage hazardous substances risks 3.5 Manage remaining hazardous substance risks You need to manage risk remaining after you put in place the controls for the substances in your inventory. Assess your workplace to identify risks and think about possible exposure to the substances. If it is reasonably practicable to do so, eliminate or substitute hazards, if not, minimise the risk. Choose control measures that protect multiple workers at once. Engage workers in identifying hazards, assessing health and safety risks and proposing changes that affect their health and safety, including decisions about: how to eliminate health and safety risks and resolve health and safety issues how to minimise health and safety risks procedures for monitoring worker health and workplace conditions procedures to provide information to, train and instruct workers. Worker engagement can take place through health and safety representatives (HSRs), health and safety committees (HSCs) and unions. Identify the risks When identifying the risks in your workplace, think about: the amount of the hazardous substance you have in the workplace any related physical or chemical hazards possible reactions with other substances ignition sources structures or plant or systems of work involved in using, handling, manufacturing or storing substances work carried out by workers with the substance and their risk of exposure to it and the likely degree of that exposure, and any prescribed exposure standards or restricted entry intervals for the substance. Think about the people who work directly with hazardous substances in your workplace and the people who could come into contact with hazardous substances in the area where they are used. Observe your workers as they work, and discuss their work practices with them. Don t forget people (eg cleaners) who may have contact with substances on contaminated surfaces and other people like contractors, visitors and workers who do not directly use hazardous substances but who may still be exposed to them. Consider whether the people you have identified above could be exposed to a substance by breathing it in, ingesting it or absorbing it through their skin. If exposure is likely, determine how serious it is To determine the degree of exposure you need to know the concentration of the substance during exposure and how long and how often people are exposed to it by looking carefully at work processes. You probably won t be able to accurately assess the degree of exposure yourself, as assessment usually involves measuring air concentrations of hazardous substances or measuring hazardous substances in urine or blood. Air measurements usually require workers to wear personal monitoring equipment as they do their job. This monitoring should be done by trained and competent professionals. To find competent people to monitor exposure levels, see the website of the New Zealand Occupational Hygiene Society at: You can also see the list of member associations of the Health and Safety Association of New Zealand, under Who we are at: 16

19 3.0 Manage hazardous substances risks Eliminate the substance or, if you can t, substitute it for a less hazardous one If possible, getting rid of the hazard altogether from your workplace is the best solution. To decide which substances do not need to be in your workplace, ask yourself: Are there hazardous substances I no longer use? Am I storing more hazardous substances than I need? Are there hazardous substances that I can t identify or that are unlabelled? If you answer yes to any of the above, have the hazardous substance you no longer need disposed of safely. Reducing the amount of hazardous substances may reduce your compliance needs and costs. Check the SDS for disposal information. Check if your local council has any rules about disposing of hazardous substances safely or choose a specialist chemical waste disposal company. If you use, handle, manufacture or store a very hazardous substance, ask your supplier if you can substitute it with a safer alternative. For example, solvent based inks can sometimes be replaced by vegetable oil based inks. You still need to consider the risks associated with the safer alternative product. FIGURE 3: Substituting hazardous substances for less hazardous ones Minimise the risk: isolation and engineering controls Isolating the substance or its use may be the most effective way to manage the risk posed by your substance. One example of isolating the hazard is spray painting in a booth that is fully automated and doesn t require anyone to enter. Another example is using an automated process for removing objects from degreasing baths. You can minimise people s exposure to hazardous substances by using engineering controls, such as ventilation. The most effective engineering controls contain the hazardous substance or prevent it from reaching workers. Ventilation reduces worker exposure and the potential for a fire or explosion by diluting flammable vapours in the air around where hazardous substances are used, handled, manufactured or stored. Local exhaust ventilation captures contaminants at, or very near, the source and vents them outside. These systems should be installed and frequently maintained by a specialist, like a ventilation engineer or health and safety specialist because if they are not properly maintained or not up to the job, they may provide little or no protection for workers. Minimise the risk: administrative controls If you cannot eliminate or substitute a substance, and if risk still remains after isolating the hazard and implementing engineering controls, minimise exposure by implementing administrative controls. These are processes to make your workplace safer. FIGURE 4: Local exhaust ventilation This illustration of local exhaust ventilation was taken from Safe Work Australia s Code of practice: Managing risks of Hazardous Chemicals Some examples are: job rotation, reducing how long a worker is exposed to a hazardous substance restricting access to areas where hazardous substances are used not allowing smoking or eating where hazardous substances are used. 17

20 3.0 Manage hazardous substances risks Personal protective equipment (PPE) For some substances, PPE is always required and you must make sure it is provided at all times. PPE is also part of the process to manage any risk remaining after you put in place the specific controls for your substances. If you cannot eliminate or substitute a substance and risk remains after you put in place isolation, engineering and administrative controls, minimise the remaining risk by providing or ensuring the use of appropriate PPE. Consider: the hazardous substance workers are dealing with the level of hazardous substances in the air at your workplace the hazard information on the label or SDS. Workers have a right to receive the PPE they need to do their job safely free of cost. They can also use their own, if they freely choose to do so, and their PPE is right for the job. Whether you provide the worker with PPE or the worker provides their own, you need to ensure that it is suitable for the work and that it fits properly. You need to provide workers with training and instruction about how to use, maintain, clean and store PPE. Workers must: wear the PPE in line with the information, instruction and training they have received from the PCBU not intentionally damage or misuse it inform the PCBU if PPE is damaged or defective, or if it needs cleaning or decontamination. You need to ensure that other persons at the workplace use or wear PPE in line with the information, training or instruction you provide. When choosing PPE ask a health and safety specialist or your supplier for help and explain to them what job the PPE will be used for. Choose products that meet New Zealand and/or Australian Standards. EXAMPLES OF PPE Eyes To protect your eyes from hazardous substances splashing into them use safety glasses, goggles, face-shields or visors. Breathing Dusts, vapours, mists, fumes and gases can be inhaled when using hazardous substances. Half or full-face respirators, air-fed helmets or breathing apparatus can protect workers from inhaling hazardous substances. Body Suitable overalls can help to protect the body from hazardous substances. FIGURE 5: Examples of PPE Hands and arms Gloves made out of a suitable material should be worn when handling hazardous substances. Feet and legs Suitable footwear should be worn to protect feet. This could include safety boots or closed-toe shoes. 18

21 3.0 Manage hazardous substances risks PPE only works if it s used correctly. If the wrong sort is used, or it doesn t fit, it won t do its job. You must ensure it is kept clean and in working order and maintained, or repaired and replaced so it continues to minimise risks to health and safety. Check your workers are using PPE properly and that it fits properly. Talk to them about the PPE, watch how they use it and what they do with it after they finish their work. 3.6 Review control measures Review your control measures to make sure they are still effective: if a control measure is not controlling the risk it was meant to control (eg when an incident occurs) before a change at the workplace that is likely to create a new or different risk that the control measures may not control (eg a new substance is used) if a new hazard or risk is identified if you receive: -- results from exposure monitoring that show a worker was exposed to a substance hazardous to health at a potentially harmful concentration and has an elevated level of that substance or its metabolites in his/her body -- results from health monitoring show that a worker may have contracted a disease or illness or suffered an injury due to working with a health hazard that has monitoring requirements -- a recommendation in an exposure or health monitoring report for you to take remedial measures if exposure monitoring shows that the concentration of a substance exceeds a prescribed exposure standard or accepted guidelines, such as the Workplace Exposure Standards and Biological Exposure Indices, available on our website if engaging with your workers indicates that control measures need to be reviewed if a health and safety representative asks for control measures to be reviewed. 3.7 Health and exposure monitoring You have a duty of care to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers while they work at the workplace. This includes making sure worker health and workplace conditions are monitored, so far as is reasonably practicable. Health monitoring means monitoring a person to identify any changes in his or her health because of exposure to health hazards arising from their work. You must monitor workers health if: their exposure to a substance hazardous to health warrants it it is possible that workers are being exposed to hazardous substances, to check that your minimisation techniques, control measures and PPE are protecting their health it is required in a safe work instrument. An example of health monitoring is spirometry testing to detect early changes in lung function. Exposure monitoring means measuring and evaluating a person s exposure to a health hazard. It includes monitoring workplace conditions and biological monitoring of people at the workplace. It can show if workers are potentially being exposed to a hazard at harmful levels and if control measures are working effectively. 19

22 3.0 Manage hazardous substances risks Exposure monitoring is only a requirement if it is specified in: a prescribed exposure standard regulations under HSWA a substance or group standard approval under the HSNO Act a safe work instrument. It is also required if you are uncertain whether a worker s exposure to a hazardous substance exceeds a prescribed exposure standard. Examples of exposure monitoring are workers wearing personal monitoring equipment as they work or biological exposure monitoring testing a worker s blood or urine for the presence of a harmful substance or its by-products (metabolites). Even if not required, exposure monitoring can work together with health monitoring to give a better idea of whether your control measures are working correctly. 3.8 Information, instruction and training Make sure everyone at the workplace has the information, training, instruction or supervision they need to protect themselves from the risks of hazardous substances. Whenever anyone does work, uses plant or deals with a substance that causes a risk in a workplace, make sure they have knowledge and experience of similar places, work, plant or substances so they don t harm their own or other people s health and safety. If they don t have this knowledge or experience, make sure they are supervised by someone who does. Workers also need to know where to find information about how to safely handle and store hazardous substances in the workplace, and the hazards these substances can cause. This includes safety data sheets, but is not limited to them. Workers must also be adequately trained. Training needs to cover all plant, objects, substances or equipment the worker may use or handle, including PPE (how to wear, use, clean and store it safely) and control measures in place to reduce risks caused by those hazardous substances. The training and instruction needs to reflect: the nature of the work what is known about the risks involved with the work at the time the supervision and training is provided control measures in place to reduce the risks caused by those hazardous substances (eg ventilation). Make sure training and instruction covers: the hazards of the hazardous substances that the worker will work with (eg are they flammable, corrosive, toxic) the control measures in place to reduce the risks caused by those hazardous substances (eg ventilation) how to safely use, handle, manufacture, store and dispose of the substances any specific duties the worker has under the regulations (eg making sure tanks are not filled beyond their maximum filling level) what the worker needs to do in an emergency involving the hazardous substances. 20

23 3.0 Manage hazardous substances risks Make sure that your worker gets the practical experience they need in your workplace under direct supervision and that you keep a record of the training and instruction you provide to the worker. Even if a worker has previous training from another workplace you need to provide an induction to your workplace and supervised experience in your workplace. Engage workers in decision-making about procedures for supervision, training, information and instruction. Make sure training, information and instruction are readily understandable spend extra time with workers with reading difficulties or whose first language is not English. 3.9 Young people Young people under 15 years old must not be present where you use, manufacture or generate hazardous substances. However, young people can be present: in areas where the public usually has access when the young person is under direct and active adult supervision suitable for the person s age and the risks when the young person is on a guided tour of the area, or in any areas used only for selling goods or services. This means that young people can do school science experiments under adult supervision, or they can be present in the retail area of a factory as long as they stay only in the area where goods or services are sold. CHECKLIST What your workers need to know Does the worker know the harm that can be caused from each hazardous substance they use at work? Does the worker know how to safely store, use or dispose of each substance they use? Does the worker understand what control measures are in place at the workplace to reduce exposure and keep safe? Has the worker been provided with the correct safety gear and PPE and does it fit properly? Has the worker been trained to use the safety gear and PPE? Does the worker know where the safety data sheets are kept and have access to them? Has the worker been trained to use safety data sheets? Does the worker know what to do in an emergency involving the substances they use? Has the worker been trained to use the first aid equipment to deal with splashes and other incidents? Has the worker had an appropriate period of practical experience under direct supervision reflecting the risks associated with the hazardous substances? Does the worker understand the importance of asking their supervisor questions if they are unsure about how to safely use, handle or store a hazardous substance? 21

24 3.0 Manage hazardous substances risks Further information Links to documents about managing hazardous substances risks can be found at: WorkSafe has also published quick guides on managing risk, with more information on the risk management process and on how you can give workers the training that they need. You can also find more information about exposure monitoring on WorkSafe s website. 22

25 4.0 Hazardous substance information IN THIS SECTION: 4.1 Label all hazardous substances 4.2 Symbols on labels and signs 4.3 Safety data sheets 4.4 Signage 23

26 4.0 Hazardous substance information Labels, safety data sheets and signs are all sources of information to warn people about the risks of the hazardous substances at your workplace. 4.1 Label all hazardous substances Manufacturers and suppliers must correctly label the products they sell you, but you must make sure that the label stays on the container and can be read. Your workers must always read the label before using a hazardous substance so they know what they are dealing with. Labelling decanted or transferred substances It s always best to keep substances in their original containers. However, if you decant or transfer a hazardous substance from one container to another for ease of use or storage, make sure the receiving container is suitable for the substance and labelled. It s never safe to have hazardous substances in unlabelled containers because people may not take the necessary safety precautions. NEVER put hazardous substances in food or drink containers because people may eat or drink the content by mistake. If you decant or transfer substances from their original container into smaller containers for use at the workplace, or mix substances in process containers at the workplace for your own use, the label needs to state the product or chemical name and include a hazard pictogram and hazard statement reflecting the substance s classification. Hazardous waste Waste that can be classified as hazardous also needs to be labelled to reflect its nature as closely as possible (eg chlorinated solvent waste), with a hazard pictogram based on its known or likely constituents, and the name, address and phone number of its producer. 4.2 Symbols on labels and signs The symbols, also known as pictograms, that you will see on containers and signs are shown in the table on the following pages. You will see GHS symbols on labels and workplace hazard warnings and Transport of Dangerous Goods symbols on containers used for transporting hazardous substances. Physical hazards TYPE OF HAZARD GHS SYMBOL TRANSPORT OF DANGEROUS GOODS SYMBOLS Explosives Flammables These symbols are for products that ignite easily and burn rapidly. Keep products with these symbols well away from oxidising products. Explosives are not dealt with by this guide. For more information on explosives, see WorkSafe s website. Flammable gases or 24

27 4.0 Hazardous substance information TYPE OF HAZARD GHS SYMBOL TRANSPORT OF DANGEROUS GOODS SYMBOLS Flammable liquids or Flammable solids Spontaneously combustible Dangerous when wet or Oxidisers These symbols are for products with oxidising properties. The products could be gas, solid or liquid and can cause or intensify fire and explosion. Keep products with these symbols well away from flammable products. Organic peroxides Organic peroxides may contribute to fire, explosion or chemical decomposition. or Corrosives Products with these symbols are corrosive and can cause severe skin burns and eye damage. They may also be corrosive to metals. Gases under pressure Products with these symbols are products where gas is kept under pressure. These products may explode when heated. If they are refrigerated gases they may cause cryogenic burns or injuries. or Even normally safe gases can be dangerous when pressurised. TABLE 1: Physical hazards 25